Transport Briefing carries the details of the new East Coast rail franchise, promising a 20% increase in seating capacity, the restoration of direct London to Lincoln train services, and major improvements to customer facilities. With the implementation of WiFi on each new train, this is an important legacy project, better connecting London to the rest of the UK and reducing the need to drive to the capital.

The train, built by the company that makes Japan's iconic bullet train, will run at 140mph on commuter services into London from 2009 and be quicker than any service except the Eurostar, which goes to Paris and Brussels. It is also raising hopes of a new era of high-speed rail travel in Britain to emulate the world-famous Japanese Shinkansen and the French TGV.

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